Trump shields major Russian oil buyers from tariffs and sanctions
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President Trump used a waiver in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act to halt 100% tariffs on the five largest importers of Russian crude and natural gas, while also suspending other sanctions in a move critics say weakens pressure on Russia and harms Ukraine.
President Trump invoked a waiver provision in the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia Act to stop 100% tariffs on the world’s five biggest importers of Russian crude oil and natural gas from taking effect on Sunday. The executive order, sent to Congress, also suspended 500% tariffs on Russian goods and paused additional sanctions, leaving the waivers in place until officials decide whether to take further action.
Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy to Russian President Vladimir Putin, hailed the suspension as “an important and truly historic moment” in a social-media post. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the decision “unfortunate,” saying the Graham Act could have supported Ukraine’s energy sector.
The Graham Act, championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, was aimed at large buyers such as China, India, Turkey and the European Union. The waivers came just a week after Trump eased restrictions on Russian diesel and announced a deal to import Russian diesel into the United States.
Congressional leaders denounced the move, and a bipartisan group of senators called the diesel waivers a “betrayal of the people of Ukraine,” urging full enforcement of the law’s sanctions and tariffs.